Archive for the ‘Promotions’ Category

The nomination phase of the Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 has finished, and we’re happy to announce that Mythspace #0 was one of the comics that were nominated — thanks to everyone who threw our name in the hat! Now comes the second phase of the awards, the popular vote, which will narrow the field down to a select few semi-finalists, from which the winner of the awards will be chosen.

To this end, we’re making a PDF copy of Mythspace #0 available as free download for the duration of the voting period, which ends on September 6. If you haven’t read Mythspace #0 yet, now’s your chance to do so — and our chance to win your vote, if you’re so inclined. If you’ve already read Mythspace #0 (or Mythspace: Lift Off [Part 1] — the 0 issue is Part 1 plus previews of the other Mythspace titles), then please, spread the word, so others can see if we merit their vote.

All read up? Great! If you like what you’ve seen, you can vote for Mythspace #0 here.You can also purchase Mythspace titles at Comic Odyssey, Robinsons Galleria.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth the download, here are a few of our more favorable reviews:

Koi Carreon’s art is amazing. As I was browsing through the pages the first time, it’s the character design that really stood out. There’s quite a bit of a manga influence in there but the human characters— from the lead character to the secondary characters (especially the secondary characters!)— all look quite Pinoy. In a story dealing with Pinoy myths, that goes a long way when it comes to adding to the overall effectiveness of the piece.

The plotting really works, going from flashback to present day without confusing the reader. The scenes picked enhance the drama of the story without crossing into melodrama. The rebellious teen who is our lead also doesn’t come close to crossing the line into being an unsympathetic character. Chikiamco also manages to provide his life history without sounding like it’s being done for the sake of dumping info onto the reader. In Liftoff as well as in the other stories, we get a sense that this is a fully realized world, with one element resonating with the next.

“Collectively the comics are all presented on a professional level rarely seen outside of the Sacred Mountain, Komikero, Gunship Revolution, and Point Zero groups. Some of the best inking and detail work among the recent komiks releases are here — and I’ve just seen partial results. The typesetting for the dialogue balloons are grammar-corrected and nearly faultless. The paneling is also professional, at par with the best of the Western comics.

On the script level, the two presented stories are as unique from each other as adobo and sinigang, even if they are made by the same cook. Be assured that there is much variety expected among the six presented stories, that it would not be boring even if they were all from the same writer. Both given stories are paced without a glitch, with a clear understanding of writing in general and the comic medium in particular. The author’s hand in the development process is also visible. There is almost no useless panel, and it is clear that the illustrators understand what to illustrate and how.”

“Just enough information is given about the main character, Ambrosio, leaving a lot of room for speculation and anticipation of what’s to come.

Although I tend to stray a bit away from angst-ridden teenagers, reasons for Ambrosio’s anger are justified, and it would be interesting to see how his character has changed now that his whole worldview has turned itself over.

There is scarce dialogue, which makes for very efficient story-telling. Chikiamco’s dialogue does what it is intended to do: move the plot forward and reveal character. It doesn’t get in the way of the action and suspense that spills throughout the pages, and that’s a very good thing when it comes to pacing.”

And last but not least, from Tina Matanguihan, from One More Page, where she gave it it 5 out of 5 stars! Here’s an excerpt:

This new series plays on the idea that the creatures we know from folk tales and movies not simply monsters from our grandparents’ stories, but you know, creatures from outer space. Sounds crazy, yes?

But you know what? It actually works.

…

I also liked reading the previews for the two longest stories there, with Liftoff having that mystery-in-space type of story with a somewhat angst-ridden hero, and Unfurling of Wings reminding me so much of the chimaera world in Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Hi guys! On the chance that some of you may be interested in my non-specfic work as well, Choice of Games has just released Slammed!, my Interactive Fiction wrestling game, for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and, via the Chrome Web Store, Windows, OS X, and Linux. By “Interactive Fiction”, I mean something along the lines of a choose-your-own-adventure gamebook, with statistics, but without dice rolls.

At 250,000 words, give or take, this is easily the longest story I’ve ever written, and you might say it’s my first novel (or first five novels). As I said, it’s not specfic — but really, pro wrestling is as close as you can come to a real life superhero universe. If you enjoy my writing, but don’t watch wrestling, I have it on good authority that you can still enjoy the game — you can try the demo to check the game out, or read the wrestling primer I prepared, for non-fans. In any event, this is a labor of love that I devoted more than half a year of my life to, and I’d love it if Rocket Kapre readers would give it a try, and help me spread the word.

We’re proud to announce that SLAMMED!, the latest in our popular “Choice of Games” line of multiple-choice interactive-fiction games, is now available for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and, via the Chrome Web Store, Windows, OS X, and Linux.

Turn a scripted steel-cage wrestling match into a real fight in this 250,000-word interactive novel!

You’ve always dreamed of becoming pro wrestling’s biggest star…but a wrestler’s world is fraught with hardship and betrayal, in and out of the ring. Become a powerhouse, a technician, a high-flier, or focus on your promo skills. There’s more than one road to success.

But none of those roads will be easy. This is a world where your biggest fans are your harshest critics; where the front office is more dangerous than the squared circle; where friends can become enemies with a single heel turn; where, sometimes, the only way to win is to lose, spectacularly.

This is professional wrestling. And you’re about to change it, forever.

Slammed! is an epic interactive professional-wrestling novel by Paolo Chikiamco, where your choices determine how the story proceeds. The game is entirely text-based–without graphics or sound effects–but driven by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

There’s never been a professional wrestling game like this, a game where the outcome of your final match, your choice of opponent, and your relationships affect the ending. When’s the last time you played a pro-wrestling RPG with a “kayfabe” stat?–or where your trash-talking “promo” ability is as important as your core strength and wrestling technique?

Enjoy a 250,000-word personal tale of friendship, competition, and revenge.

Develop not only your physical abilities, but a favored wrestling style.

Become a heroic face, or a villainous heel–or even turn heel.

Turn a scripted match into a real fight–and vice versa.

Decide when to keep kayfabe, and when to break it.

Play as male or female, gay or straight.

We hope you enjoy playing SLAMMED!. We encourage you to tell your friends about it, and recommend the game on StumbleUpon, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. Don’t forget: our initial download rate determines our ranking on the App Store. Basically, the more times you download in the first week, the better our games will rank.

It’s been a year since Typhoon Ondoy, followed soon after by Typhoon Pepeng, ravaged parts of Luzon. In memory of the trials many Filipinos went through this time last year, from today until 3PM of October 8, 2010 (the date that Typhoon Pepeng made landfall a third time on the shores of battered Luzon), Ruin and Resolve, our charity SF anthology, will be free on Smashwords with the use of the coupon you’ll find below. We’re doing this to help remind people of last year’s trauma – especially important given that it is entirely possible for the disaster to be repeated today – but if you enjoy the anthology, please consider donations to charitable organizations such as the Philippine National Red Cross (the beneficiary of Ruin and Resolve). Every little bit helps.

Here’s what people have said about Ruin and Resolve:

“Borne out of tragedy but driven by a spirit of triumph, Ruin and Resolve takes us to different worlds, fantastic and magical, futuristic and the mundane every day. The collection, meant to help Ondoy victims with is proceeds, provides us all with reasons to keep striving, to never surrender, never quit. It may sound corny to say that one finds inspiration, and yes, the resolve needed, in these texts. But that’s the fact of the matter. More than a few times the reader will find not just beauty of image and power of prose, but genuine uplift and the feeling of elevation.” – Carljoe Javier, author of “And the Geek Shall Inherit the Earth“ and the “Kobayashi Maru of Love“.

“But outside its being a charitable donation, this newest [Spec Fic] anthology isn’t a throwaway piece of literature; it’s worth buying for its own sake — lending credence to the publisher’s self-effacing introduction of “we hope our stories and poems make you feel all the happier to have helped those in need.”- Johanna Poblete, Business World.

Young adult novels these days are less books that don’t quite reach the level of craft and sophistication of “adult” novels, and more an indication of the ages of the lead characters. Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games novels are some of the very best to come out in recent years, and I’m happy that Scholastic has really been pushing the series. Fans of the series know that the final book in the trilogy, “Mockingjay”, will be released on August 25, and Scholastic, together with National Book Store, with help from the New Worlds Alliance and Flips Flipping Pages will be holding a launch event a few days after, on August 29, 2010, at 1:00p.m. at the National Book Store Bestsellers branch at the Robinson’s Galleria. There are a host of activities lined up for fans during the event, and I’ll be taking part in one of them:

Hunger Games Discussion Panel: Yep, I’ll be part of the discussion panel (to be moderated by Meann of New Worlds and SumintheBlue) at the event, which will cover the first two books of the series, so no need to be afraid to take part just because you haven’t bought/finished the third yet. Bea Tejano will also be on the panel, along with two other panelists.

“Catching Fire” Quarter Quell LARP: New Worlds Alliance will also be reprising their live action contest/RP – they’re looking for two more teams of 2 members to participate. You can sign up here or see how the last iteration of this contest went down here.

Cinna’s Corner: This is where participants can get temporary tattoos for free.

Haymitch’s Bar: A refreshment/snack/beverage station, but probably not one that Haymitch would frequent (I doubt they’ll serve alcohol).

There will also be a photo booth, and a viewing of the book trailer, so if you’re a Hunger Games fan, or just in the Robinson’s area on the 29th, make sure to drop by!

About Me

Rocket Kapre is an imprint of Eight Ray Sun Publishing Inc. (a new Philippine-based publisher), dedicated to bringing the very best of Philippine Speculative Fiction in English to a worldwide audience by means of digital distribution. More info can be found at our About section at the top of the page.